Thursday, May 31, 2007

Team from NM heading to Uganda and Sudan
Eric Chapman traveled on the first Lahash team in 2005. He attends a church in Roswell, New Mexico, and has a team of three traveling this summer. Linda and Genora will be experiencing the day to day life of the Sudanese kids and staff for several weeks. They were working on collecting some clothes and other donations recently.


Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Update from Mama Susan in Sudan
Susan and the team in Sudan are gearing up for several teams of visitors this summer. She just returned from Southern Sudan and has some new digital photos for everyone. The two primary projects they've been attending to are the infant baby home to accommodate the orphaned babies in the area, and a set of two boys dorms that will be safer and more permanent than the current grass-roofed rooms.

Here's a photo of the babies home almost complete.

Here's a photo of supplies for the leper community at Magiri that were donated over the past several months.

Here the kids at St. Bartholomew are busy in the garden.
Kathy Switzer visits Kibera
A new friend to the Tenderfeet Children's Center, Kathy from Canada, recently made a trip to Kibera and brought a whole bunch of helpful gifts for the kids and staff. She brought shoes, books, plates, cups, and much more! She spent time traveling around the Kibera slums, getting a tour from Edwin and Frank, and spoiling the kids of Kibera with fruit and candy.

She writes:

"Margaret and I immediately hit it off - she’s the kind of person that you feel you’ve known forever, but just met an hour ago. I feel at home with her and she has an incredibly contagious smile that never falters."

Kathy has kept an incredible insightful journal online:

The Tenderfeet Travelers

Kathy bringing some gifts
Edwin has helped install lights
Shoes for the kids!

Kathy Continues:
As I sit in the cab in traffic to go into Kibera again today, I look around with such fondness for this place on the other side of my world. How could you not have an affinity to a place that has opened its arms up and wrapped itself around you so tightly you can barely breathe?

We also are so grateful for the generosity of everyone for the Tenderfeet Sponsorship program. The school is becoming a better place of learning and allows for greater care and love for these dear children. Email dax@lahash.net if you'd like to be a part of the team!

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

New Tenderfeet Video Posted
I've just edited a portion of video that interviews Mama Margaret of Tenderfeet Education Center in Kibera, Kenya. She is the founder of the school of 50+ children who the majority have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS and some other causes. We've partnered with her school, and recently have been a part of renovating some temporary structures for the school. Her dream, as you can watch in the video, is to raise money to create a full featured school in the slum to help care for these kids through education and feeding.

Dax Mitchell has set up a sponsorship program for the kids - you can view the details of this online at www.tenderfeetkids.org, or email him at dax@lahash.net

Monday, May 14, 2007

Teams heading out this summer!
I just got back from a training in Miami, Florida with this group of friends pictured above. They are part of the Fritz Brown Construction crew, and will be assisting with the construction of a set of boys dorms in Southern Sudan at St. Bartholomew's Orphanage. Caleb Brown (back, right) will be living in Sudan for six months and then traveling to Kibera to help Mama Margaret with the Tenderfeet Children's Center.

Also traveling to Sudan this summer is Eric Chapman (who traveled with us in '05) and two friends from his church. They'll be living and working at St. Bartholomew's orphanage as well.

Please be praying for these travelers as they raise funds, prepare, and then eventually travel. Pray that they will have safety, humility, and an easy transition into the local culture and environment.

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Office Needs!
Hello friends. We are in need of some donations for office renovation costs here in Portland, and we also need some skilled plumbers and electricians to assist with rerouting pipes and wiring.

The situation:
We've been given an office space rent free on 45th and Burnside in the basement of the First Covenant Church. Unfortunately the space needs some major work to complete some walls, ceiling tiles, and paint. We would like to complete this work with the help of skilled volunteers. Would you be interested in helping with these needs?

Here are our needs:
Construction Materials
30 pieces of 2x4s
25 pieces of 1/2 inch sheetrock - $250

Insulation
Ceiling - R-30 insulation. 120 square feet (2 Bundles) - $100
Walls - R-13. 210 square feet- $120

Paint
5 gallons of almond paint - $20

Mud
Yellow Tape
4 beadex light joint compound $25
8 canned lights
Floors - Pressure or acid wash and sealer $70
Paint appliances $10

Skills:
Electrician
Plumber

Here are our estimates for total costs for renovation:
$850 materials
$850 for labor

If you'd like to help out with these needs, please email me at dan@lahash.net or call 503-348-7265

Thanks!